Mom'z Laugh Seeks Gulfstream Hat Trick in Miami Shores

A Bianco Holding’s Mom’z Laugh, already a two-time winner at the Championship Meet, can make it three in a row in Sunday’s feature, the $65,000 Miami Shores for fillies and mares 4 and up.

Bred in Florida and trained by Marcus Vitali, the 4-year-old bay filly is a head shy of having four straight wins, finishing third by that margin in an optional claiming allowance Nov. 19 at Gulfstream Park West.

She has bounced back to take her next two starts, a six-furlong entry-level allowance against open company Dec. 16, beating older horses, and the seven-furlong Sunshine Millions Distaff by a head Jan. 16.

“She’s doing well. I’m going to enter her. She  came out of the last race real strong. She’s a head-banger, another fighter. As long as she stays healthy I think we’ll be hearing from her a little bit,” Vitali said.

“She’s a funny filly. She’s in and out of form. I scratch my head. Some days she’s a monster. She’s never bad but, attitude-wise, you can tell in the morning whether you’re having a good day or not so good day. Lately they’ve been mostly good, so that’s a good thing.”

Valid to Run Back at Championship Meet; Lochte Getting Short Break 

Trainer Marcus Vitali said that multiple graded stakes winner Valid has already returned to the track following his runner-up finish behind Dubai-bound Mshawish in the Donn, and is likely to run back before the Championship Meet ends April 3.

“He went to the track [Wednesday], looked like a monster. He jogged couple miles the wrong way, just to get him out of the barn a little bit. He acted like he never ran,” Vitali said. “He’s amazing. He runs hard every time and he recuperates. Other horses take a little while, three or four days to come back, with him after day two he’s ready to do something. I have to tell him what to do and not let him tell me. He’s the real deal. He’s a healthy horse.”

The $500,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) at one mile March 5 and the $150,000 Skip Away (G3) at 1 1/8 miles April 2 are Gulfstream’s two remaining graded stakes on dirt for older horses.

"It’s all up in the air. We’ve got options. He loves it here. We’re looking forward to running him back in the next few weeks, so we’ll see what happens,” Vitali said. “He’ll go either way. I think he runs a little bouncier the longer between. Figuring out these horses is the tricky part of the job. I think he doesn’t want to run too quick but doesn’t want to wait too long, either. He’s going to run a good race regardless, but if you catch him just right when all the cylinders are firing, then you’re going to get a bang-up race like the last couple.”

Meanwhile, Vitali is giving fellow Crossed Sabres Farm-owned stablemate and Grade 1 winner Lochte a short break following his effort in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) Jan. 9 where he was fourth as the favorite, beaten less than two lengths.

For the time being, Lochte remains with Vitali’s string at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“Lochte is all right. I’m giving him a few months R and R. He deserves it. He’s been a real good horse and doesn’t owe anybody anything,” Vitali said. “I feel like he needs to be a horse for two or three months, and might not even be that long depending on how he’s feeling. He’s still at Palm Meadows. He came out of the last race good. I haven’t’ sent him anywhere yet. I’m debating. He’s feeling pretty good. I almost put the tack on him the other day but I’m trying to stick to my guns here and do the right thing.”